Gardening Made Easy!

Gardening Made Easy!
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The Plants That Will Disappear First in a Crisis
In a crisis, people will turn to plants once again for both
food and medicine.
And there are some plants that will vanish faster than all others.
So the only way to make sure you have them when you
need them is to grow them in your own backyard.
I’ve gathered all the seeds for
growing these plants and placed
them inside a Medicinal Garden Kit.
But I only managed to make 300
packages like this:

Contents
Gardening Tips: Borders............................................................................................................................9
General Gardening Tips ...........................................................................................................................10
Late Autumn Gardening Tips...................................................................................................................11
Gardening Tips: Using The Internet........................................................................................................12
Gardening Tips: More Advice ..................................................................................................................13
Admiring The Old Garden Rose ..............................................................................................................14
All About Roses ........................................................................................................................................16
Arranging Flowers For Dummies ............................................................................................................18
Designing Your Rose Garden ..................................................................................................................20
Discover Antique Roses...........................................................................................................................22
Gardening To Relieve Stress ...................................................................................................................24
How To Care For An Antique Rose .........................................................................................................26
Learning About Nurseries........................................................................................................................28
Origin, Sentiment And Care Of Red Roses ............................................................................................30
Roses And Their Color Meaning .............................................................................................................32
The Basics Of Designing Gardens ..........................................................................................................35
The Benefits Of Rose Shrubs ..................................................................................................................37
The White Rose Is Not Just Another Flower!.........................................................................................39
What About Rose Gardening?.................................................................................................................41
Why Would I Want To Grow Hybrid Teas? .............................................................................................43
Gardening Tips: Growing Hot Peppers...................................................................................................45
Gardening Tips: Starting A Butterfly Garden........................................................................................46
Gardening Tips: Compost........................................................................................................................47
Gardening Tips: Organic Gardening.......................................................................................................49
Gardening Tips: Patio Gardening............................................................................................................50
Gardening Tips: Winter Gardening .........................................................................................................52
Gardening Tips: Creating A Wildlife Garden..........................................................................................54
Gardening Tips: Common Pests .............................................................................................................56
Gardening Tips: Types Of Soil ................................................................................................................57
Gardening Tips: Starting With A New Garden .......................................................................................59
Using Your Florist – Floral/Flower Gardening Idea Hunting ................................................................60
Indoor Gardening Supplies In Winter .....................................................................................................62
Cast Iron Furniture....................................................................................................................................64
Gardening Catalog....................................................................................................................................66
Gardening ..................................................................................................................................................68

Is A Raised Summer Garden Right For You?.........................................................................................70
Landscaping Your Summer Garden........................................................................................................72
Oak Garden Furniture...............................................................................................................................74
Picking A Healthy Plant............................................................................................................................76
Picking The Ideal Location For Your Garden.........................................................................................78
Summer Garden Weddings......................................................................................................................80
Understanding Container Gardening......................................................................................................82
Gardening Tips: Borders..........................................................................................................................84
What Kind Of Landscaping Equipment Do You Need To Have Around The House? ........................85
Find Yourself A Great Landscaping Picture...........................................................................................87
Why Use Landscaping Stones? ..............................................................................................................89
Get The Best Around The Pool Landscaping.........................................................................................91
Rain And Snow In Your Yard Landscaping............................................................................................92
A Wonderful Backyard Landscaping Idea..............................................................................................94
Free Landscaping Software Helps Design Exterior On A Budget .......................................................96
Hillside Landscaping: Make That Hill Look Beautiful! ..........................................................................98
Landscaping Pictures Offer Different Possibilities .............................................................................100
Low Maintenance Landscaping Chicago..............................................................................................101
The Key To Landscaping Design ..........................................................................................................102
What Does Your Landscaping Plan Need? ..........................................................................................103
Not All Landscaping Software Is Created Equal..................................................................................104
Do You Know How To Choose The Right Landscaping Supply Store?............................................106
Pool Landscaping Will Require Significant Thought ..........................................................................107

Gardening Tips: Borders
If you want to add ground cover such as creeping thyme or alyssum to your garden here is a
great way to get started early and a fabulous way to create instant borders without the backache
of having to plant each flower. Measure the area you want covered with ground cover. Let’s
say you want to create a border along an existing garden that is 10 feet long. Cut newspaper
(about 2 pages thick) into two feet long by one foot wide strips. To cover 10 feet you will need
five of these two foot strips. Place the strips in a slightly sunny area but where the seeds won’t
be disturbed or pelted with rays of light, such as basement shelving near a window. Place
garbage bags on the shelves then add the newspaper strips. Do not overlap strips.
Sprinkle the seeds on the newspaper like you would if you were planting them in the ground.
Place a layer of paper towel over each strip and then spray the towel, seeds and newspaper
with a water bottle. You want to saturate the towel and the newspaper, but you don’t want it to
drip. The paper must never dry out (if it does spray immediately.) Remove the paper towel
when the seeds germinate (in about a week.) Two months later, weather permitting, you can
plant your newspaper strips, now bursting with seedlings, outdoors. First carefully arrange each
seedling strip where it will be planted. Once you are happy with the arrangement cover bare
newspaper areas with soil to anchor the strip.

General Gardening Tips
Save all flats and flower pots that come with your plants. First, you can always use these to
start your seeds next season (be sure to wash the flats to rid them of any disease.) Second, it
may look funny at first, but if you cut out the bottom of plastic pots and place them over younger
transplants it will protect them from rabbits. Additionally, placing pots around ornamental
grasses is a great way to contain the younger, lower grass strands from rotting as they lay on
the ground. The band created by the pot will keep the strands off the ground.
Here’s a coffee tip. Humans are not the only ones to get a boost from espresso. Plants do too!
Caffeine and theophylline, two ingredients of coffee are popular ingredients in expensive skin
care products, and key ingredients in asthma medications, but also make excellent fertilizer for
plants. You can get it by the big bagful and for free just by contacting your local coffee shop.
Just mix the espresso in with your existing soil every few months and watch your plants grow.
Successful gardening means that you don’t always have to buy everything new, such as pots or
fertilizer. Look around your home to see what you already have that you can reuse.

Late Autumn Gardening Tips
Come fall gardeners are usually a little teary-eyed over parting ways with garden tasks. For a
little late season planting run to the nearest garden section and buy California poppy, candytuft,
cornflower, dianthus, phlox, cosmos, soapwort, spinach, larkspur, pansies, some marigolds,
snapdragons, garlic, and/or sweet pea seeds for what should be half off at that time of year.
These hardy annuals can actually be planted in the fall and will bloom in the spring or summer!
Who doesn’t want instant blooming results in the garden? If you buy a plant you want it to be all
it can be like, yesterday, right. Nurseries know this and so you will pay a premium for larger
plants. Not only is there a demand, but also the overhead on a mature plant is more than a new
one (larger container, more water, etc.) But if you are patient, buy the smaller plant. It will save
you a good deal of money and in a couple of months, with the right conditions and some Miracle
grow your plant formerly known as small, will be a force to be reckoned with.
Autumn is a great time of year to buy your seeds on sale as well as plant those late year garden
varieties in your garden. Take the time to plan an autumn garden so you can enjoy flowers late
into the year.

Gardening Tips: Using The Internet
The Internet is a gardener’s best friend You might be surprised to know that your local nursery
has been charging you way too much money. Or you might be pleasantly surprised to discover
your local nursery is the best kept secret with great prices and stock. The point is, shop around
online as well as offline. Here is one reason why: while searching for farmers or companies that
sold plants in her area, one gardener we interviewed came across a nursery she had never
heard of. She called and discovered they sold directly to nurseries until June when they opened
to the public, but since she was local she could look through their 12 greenhouses and buy what
she wanted. She had her pick of flowers, colors, textures, and rarities and didn’t have to worry
about the item she wanted being sold out. Not only can you find great deals by researching, but
you can also find new sources!
As well, the Internet is a great place to get ideas for next year’s garden. You’ll find many ideas
no matter what type of garden you’re growing. Check out gardening forums to see what other
gardeners around the country are doing. You might find a great new garden idea that is sure to
transform your garden into a neighborhood show piece.

Gardening Tips: More Advice
Stones between the sizes of oranges and cantaloupes make great decorations, or borders for
gardens, but if you want a lot they can be costly. If you live near new construction, be it a large
building or a new neighborhood, you are sure to find many suitable rocks for your garden. Be
careful, as construction sites can be dangerous. Don’t forget to bring a wagon with so you can
easily roam the area and move your stones at the same time.
Here’s a tip about plants and seeds. Whether the plant is an annual, perennial, or bush such as
the azalea you should harvest the seeds even if you don’t plan on planting them. Why?
Because you can trade them for other seeds, grow the plants and sell them at the end of your
driveway or at the farmer’s market for extra money. You can even donate the seeds to local
charities, or animal shelters, that can then resell them at a fundraiser.
Gardening is all about finding out what works best for you and what doesn’t. Take the time to
write down all of your gardening ideas so that you can read them over during the winter months
in preparation for the spring months. Than when spring arrives you’ll be ready to buy the seeds
and plants you want for your new garden plan.

Admiring The Old Garden Rose
To recreate the gardens of your ancestors, include the old garden roses. These date back for
centuries, are hardier, and include a large variety. They fare well in poor conditions, are the
easiest type of rose to care for, do best in rich soil that drains well, and continue to bloom for
years.
Some types of the old garden rose are Mary Queen of Scots, Sweetheart Rose, American
Beauty, Awakening, and Belle Amore.
The Butterfly Rose is an ancient hybrid from China, introduced in 1932. The blooms change
colors from soft orange to pink to carmine, which makes it a delight to observe.
Old garden roses with the traditional appearance include:
The Duchesse de Brabant (a Gulf Coast rose with a light scent),
Belinda's Dream (long stems, nice fragrance),
Zepherine Drouhin (unique fragrance),
Red Radiance (strong fragrance).
What classifies a rose as an old garden rose? According to the American Rose Society, these
are plants introduced before 1867. They prefer light fertilization, a light feeding schedule, and
patience. They bloom only when they are ready to bloom.
Judging seminars are held because it is a challenge to judge the old garden rose; therefore, the
judging for it is not set in stone. Fewer judges are familiar with it than with the newer modern
roses.
If your goal is to show your old garden roses for prizes, you'll have to pay a bit more attention to
them and prepare them properly for the shows. Things to look for include strong, vibrant
blooms, leaves, and stems. They should have good color. Remove damaged petals (trim if
necessary). The foliage should be clean. The less side growths you have on your canes, the
better. A stem-on-stem condition is considered impairment. This is when new growth starts
where old growth had stopped.

A national show was held in Dallas, Texas, in October of 2006. There are district shows and
local shows around the country as well. If you are interested in competing in the rose shows,
you might consider joining the American Rose Society. Through such a group, you can obtain a
wealth of information and contacts.
Plenty of garden groups and clubs exist for rose enthusiasts. A short list of some of these clubs
are as follows: American Horticultural Society, Arlington Rose Foundation, Phoenix Rose
Society, Potomac Rose Society, Arizona West Valley Rose Society, and Humboldt Rose
Society.
If you would enjoy traveling around the United States in search of gardens to view the various
old garden roses, among other types, you could try the following places:
The Pageant of Roses Garden, Whittier, CA, Washington Park International Rose Test Garden,
Portland, OR, Inez Parker Memorial Rose Garden, San Diego, CA, The Gardens of the
American Rose Society, Shreveport, LA, Tyler Municipal Rose Garden Center, Tyler, TX, and
the Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin, TX.
If traveling the United States is not an option, try the local yellow pages in your area or call or
visit the Chamber of Commerce in your town to get information on local gardens, clubs, and
events that feature old garden roses.

All About Roses
Who hasn't heard of the most popular flowering plant of all time, the rose? The rose plant can
spark a quick conversation amongst even the shyest of persons. Almost anyone can tell you of
someone they know who has grown beautiful roses or of someone who couldn't. Almost
anyone can tell you of someone who got or sent roses, especially around the holidays. Even
little children know what the rose plant is.
The local florist most likely has dozens of colors, types, and sizes of rose plants. It would seem
to be the best selling flower of all time. The local discount store and even the local grocer
carries some sort of rose plant these days.
In my opinion, the best rose is one that has a strong scent. A rose has a most distinct smell,
and a scent welcome to most anyone. The fragrance is like no other and has been reproduced
in perfumes and air fresheners for years. There are rose-scented oils and lotions, bath
products. There are rose colors and rose images galore. You can find rose parades and
people named Rose. You can even coming out "smelling like a rose". All because of a mere
plant that reached enormous proportions of popularity.
The rose plant is available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and types. It is known worldwide.
The prices vary depending on where you buy or what type and size you want.
Do you want a rose plant already started in a pot? You may have to repot it. Make sure you do
your homework before you buy one.
When you decide what type of rose plant you'd like, think of placement. There is a plant called
the thornless rose plant that will grow in the shade. But most rose plants are known to have
thorns, so you wouldn't want your small child or grandchild or frequent tiny visitors to happen
upon something that is so pretty that they can't resist grabbing and end up with an unwelcome
handful of thorns. It may even sour them on the enjoyment of the rose plant for life because of
a tearful memory. And roses are too beautiful to allow such a thing!

There are climbing rose plants which you most certainly wouldn't want trailing across the ground
to be stomped by animals or other foot traffic. Some roses are delicate and unfiltered light
would cook their leaves to an unwelcome brown. If your rose plant is the type that grows into a
bush, you would want to place it in a spot that allows for it to spread.
Rose plants carry so many different names, it's probably enough to fill a small book! Some of
the names include Rose Blaze, Rose Red Eden, Rose New Dawn, Rose Neptune, Rose
Zephirine, just to name a very few. If you want a rose that sounds like it belongs in a class all its
own, you could buy a Rose Paris D'Yves St. Laurent! That's a mouthful! Happy Hunting!

Arranging Flowers For Dummies
Have you been intimidated by the thought of putting together a flower arrangement but
experienced failure before you even bought the flowers? Arranging flowers is not that difficult
with a little guidance and some great ideas! Displaying your flowers can be fun especially when
being creative in stylish but simple ways.
The first thing to start with is finding some basic household containers for your fresh cut flowers.
Don't be limited to the typical glass vase but expand the horizons of your creativity and just start
to look around you. Grandma's old water picture makes a great country look or a sterling silver
pitcher for a more traditional look. Simple candle votive holders with a single flower in it at each
place setting at your dinner party, adds a touch of elegance. Old cans and bottles can be quite
nostalgic. The ideas are endless without the expense of purchasing a vase. Choosing flowers
with large heads like lilies, orchids or sunflowers individually put in a container all lined up is
quite stylish.
Using vintage teapots, tumblers or even old jam jars can create a conversation piece. Be sure
to cut the stems short so the flowerheads skim the top of the container. Jar or glass containers
can be put inside baskets for a unique fall look or spring assortment.
If you have a suitable vase but the color is just not right, try wrapping it with ribbon, string or a
scarf. This adds a nice visual interest and distracts the eye from the vase. You could even stick
the vase inside a decorative gift bag for that goes with your theme or decor.
It is much easier to coordinate the color of flowers once you have the vase design set. Another
great idea, yet simple, is to cover the outside of the vase in double-sided adhesive tape. Then
stick large leaves vertically around. Some household leaves look wonderful because of their
exotic markings, coloration or glossiness. If you have no leaves, wind plain string or colored in
coils around the bottles of jars. Adding beads or shells can add an ethnic look. Satin parcel
ribbon or even honeysuckle vines will work. Go with where your interests lie.
If this is all not simple enough for you or you have had a few disasters in your demonstration,
then a lovely way of displaying flowers is to cut off individual flower heads and float them in a

low dish of water. Adding small floating candles is very romantic and brings a peace and
tranquillity into your arrangement and your home.
Flower arranging is not something you can really fail at if the flowers you love are mixed with the
people you love. Whether the arrangement is for your home or elsewhere, enjoy your creation
and the time you spent creating it. Stop and smell the flowers is a cliché we have all heard but
oh so true! In this fast paced world, take time to enjoy the scents, beauty and diversity of
flowers.

Designing Your Rose Garden
The use of landscape roses can make the exterior of any house more graceful, fragrant and
inviting. Selecting the right varieties to compliment and accent the home's style and your vision,
will contribute to the success of your landscape and rose garden design.
Finding the perfect roses for your rose garden is not hard at all because of the the diverse
varieties roses come in. The problem lies in choosing the right ones for your landscape needs
and the design you wish to attain.
Roses come in a number of classes. Each class holds characteristics that make them a great
choice for use as landscape ornamentals. If you'd like to have roses growing up and over a
trellis or archway or cascading from window boxes, the tall growing tea roses are a perfect
choice. Tea roses are known for their wild growing blooms and all who walk under the archway
enjoy a beautiful display of roses.
If a trellis is not available and you're looking to accent a wall, then choose a true climbing rose.
The beauty of a true climbing rose allows you train the plant into many different looks and
effects. In essence you can train it any way you want it to grow.
The Floribunda rose is an excellent choice when a vibrant splash of background color is what
you're looking for. The popular Floribunda rose varieties give all this color in the landscape with
their large and breathtaking sprays of blooms.
The versatile rose can also be used as a ground cover or planted in front of other plants to give
color and accent. They can also be used as stand alone specimens and trained into a small tree
or planted as hedges. Rugosa roses are a good choice for this. The goal or impact of the rose
is not the varieties or ways it can be grown but the colors they offer in the living gardening
palette. What gardeners want are healthy rose plants that deliver impact in many sizes, styles,
textures, colors and shapes. When considering your design for your rose garden choose the
complimentary colors for your surrounding landscape. A simple arrangement of pink roses
delivers the perfect compliment to a stone or marble entranceway or drive. White tea roses
offer a striking contrast against a dark red brick home. Roses come in so many colors it should

be easy to find colors which compliment and enhance any decorating or landscape design you
come up with. Designing your rose garden will be exciting and challenging to say the least.
Incorporate your own color favorites and mix styles and textures for an interesting appeal.
Roses do well in a variety of temperature zones and climates so make sure you choose the
varieties suitable to the area in which you live. This translates into fewer maintenance issues,
less pesticides and disease issues promoting overall a healthier rose garden.

Discover Antique Roses
Antique roses, also called Victorian Roses, are said to be strong survivors and the most fragrant
of the roses. The word antique applies obviously to its history. An antique of any kind,
however, will catch a collector's eye. What better to put near a museum, which houses
antiques, than a flowering plant also named antique? Antiques of all kinds have gained in
popularity over the years. It makes sense that a flower with similar name, would gain as well.
Although very well-known in the southern states of the United States, an antique rose plant can
also be found in other parts of the globe, including China, Canada, and Russia to name a few.
Some places in the United States that are known for antique roses are: Brenham, TX (Antique
Rose Emporium), Sebastopol, CA (Vintage Gardens), Laurens, SC (Roses Unlimited), Eustes,
FL (Seminole Springs Antique Rose and Herb Farm), and in Canada (Pickering Nurseries, Inc.).
If you want your roses to stay strong in the winter, you must be sure to not neglect them in the
summer months. A healthier plant is a hardier plant. It is said that the fall's cooler temperatures
will stimulate the antique rose plants. It makes sense when the cooler weather also stimulates
us humans. Doesn't a cold shower tend to get the blood flowing? While I wouldn't recommend
giving your roses a cold shower, except by nature's own rain, I wish only to make a point.
Many people start roses from cuttings. I am not one blessed with a "green thumb", so I have yet
to try this. It is interesting to think that only a piece of another plant could produce a thing of
such beauty when tended properly.
Certain things should be taken into consideration when growing antique roses. Things such as
the PH balance of the soil, insects, proper grooming and pruning, fertilizing, fungus, mildew, and
a late freeze are some things to guard against.
Certain things that a rose might coax for your viewing pleasure, are bumblebees and butterflies.
There are sure to be human visitors ready to pour their admiration for your beautiful antique
roses.

Keep in mind that some plants will bloom only once a year, so make your selection carefully.
Be sure to consider your climate as well. Protect your investment and you won't be
disappointed. The price of quart sized pots range anywhere from $5.95 to $15.95-US dollars.
Antique rose memorabilia can be found in many shopping places that sell flowers. If cash is an
issue, you can check discount shops, auctions, garage sales and flea markets.
You can find items with antique rose themes in jewelry, paintings, valances, lamp shades,
bedding, photo frames, stationery, and posters, to name a few.
Just the name, "Antique Rose", carries a hint of romanticism, class, and a certain sophistication.
There is the old saying that a rose by any other name is still a rose! Ahhh, but the many kinds
we are blessed with! And the name of this such kind seems to demand respect.

Gardening To Relieve Stress
Many of us garden because we want to grow our own fruits and vegetables. An attractive
landscape or curb appeal may be the goal of others. Gardening, no matter what kind, can also
be therapeutic. For many people gardening relaxes the mind, body and spirit. Actually, it is not
gardening that's relaxing but the way that we approach it. If gardening is seen as a chore, it's
stressful. If we view it as enjoyable, it can help relieve stress.
Focusing on your gardening task is the key to relieving stress. Digging, chopping, and hitting
motions can relieve stress and tension. In some settings, people hit dummies, slam pillows or hit
into thin air but motions of gardening release stress. Strenuous activities also provide an outlet
for pent up aggression. Strenuous activities are certainly not the only ways to relieve stress.
Something as simple as a walk around the garden may be just what the doctor ordered. When
you take your walk, be sure to absorb all the colors, fragrances and designs in the garden. You
can also admire your gardening skills and this is sure to reverse the stress into a state of well
being.
Here are some pointers for your stress free gardening:
Make a short "to do" list and stick to it. Don't try to do everything in one afternoon, evening, or
weekend because this is sure to manifest as stress. Attack garden chores with the same vigor
as weight-lifting, running, or swimming.
Stop and rest periodically reviving yourself with some stretching and plenty of fluids. Listening to
music while gardening can add a pleasurable environment with the calming effect of your
favorite tunes. Teach your children how to garden. Not only will they be learning a lifelong skill
but will cherish the time spent with you.
Stress is at an all time high in the society we live in today and is the root cause of many
diseases and chronic illnesses. Learn how to quite your mind and tune out the noise by having
brief moments of internal silence. If you don't have the yard or space to denote your own
gardening skills, volunteer! There are many places that have horticultural therapy programs that

are in need of volunteers. Schools, day cares, nursing homes and hospitals are great places to
start looking to volunteer.
Gardening has many other advantages, too. Growing your own produce supplies you with fresh
fruit and vegetables for your summer meals. This is always too a great avenue to share the
harvest with friends and family. What's better than home grown tomatoes from your own
garden? Being out in the sun in limited amounts of time gardening also supplies you with
vitamin D. Sunshine brightens your spirits and will give you that sun kissed glow. Remember
moderation is key when being out in the sun.
Gardening usually requires a lot of bending and lifting. Doing it the wrong way can put a lot of
strain on your lower back so a good technique for planting or weeding is to squat. Put one knee
on the ground rather than bending at the waist switching knees every few minutes. Kneel on a
small pillow or purchase knee pads which you can buy at a department store, hardware store, or
gardening shop. Also use caution when lifting shrubs or bags of soil or waste. Try to keep your
back straight and bend at your knees. Use your legs instead of your back to lift the weight. Be
careful not to twist your body and if something is too heavy to lift then wait on help. Gardening
is an excellent way to relieve stress for all ages but remember to do it safely and over time.
Gardening can become not only a stress reliever but an fulfilling hobby to share with your
friends and family.

How To Care For An Antique Rose
When one thinks of an antique, a rose might not immediately come to mind. But antique roses
have been around for centuries. Shakespeare used the word 'eglantine' when speaking of the
rose in his sonnets and plays. Eglantine is described in the dictionary as a European rose with
sweet-scented leaves and pink flowers.
If you aren't familiar with the word 'emporium', it means a large store with a wide variety of
things for sale. There are antique rose emporiums to delight rose growers. You can buy an
antique rose already rooted from a rose emporium.
How does one prepare to grow an antique? First choose an area that allows for several hours
of morning sunlight. It is best to give the plant room for healthy air movement as the bush will
grow and develop. Break the soil well; a tiller is helpful should you desire to plant many plants
in one area. It's better to have rich soil in which to grow your antique. The antique will do better
if you add good quality organic material and if the soil has proper drainage.
When does one prepare the area for planting the antique? It's best to prepare in the spring or
summer if you live in a southern climate. When you are new to planting, it is an easy
assumption that all planting should be done in the spring. But it depends on the climate of the
area where you live. If you are buying seeds, there are usually helpful maps on the back of the
seed packets to use as a guide. If you are buying from a nursery, be sure to ask there. Of
course, you could always try looking it up online or going to the local library or enlisting the
advice of an established gardener.
How long can you keep an antique in a container before planting outdoors? If needed, you can
keep an antique in a container for several months. You'll want to give them more attention than
once you get them established outdoors. Remember to fertilize and water frequently---and don't
forget proper drainage and air flow around the plants!
Should you add mulch to your antique roses? A true-blue gardener would gasp at the neglect to
add mulch! It cuts down on weeds. This may seem strange since it aids the growth of one type

of plant and inhibits the growth of another. Mulching also means less stress to your roots from
the heat.
How often would one water an antique? It helps to deep-soak your antique once a week---that
means saturating the ground in which you have planted your rose. Several hours or overnight
should do the trick. This is where it is extremely helpful to have a soaker hose for soaking more
than one plant at once.
An antique rose is not disease free, but it is disease resistant. It's still important to watch for
insect or other damage. Should you spray, it is preferable to use a mild fungicide. If in doubt,
read the labels on the product carefully. Prune your antique lightly and respectfully. It won't
bloom well if the new growth has to endure damage from heat or frost.

Learning About Nurseries
Although some nurseries may specialize in certain plants, generally a nursery is incomplete
without stocking roses. A nursery should offer a better selection of types and sizes of rose
plants already started than any other store. Nurseries are placed worldwide. You can find
nurseries almost anywhere in the United States, Australia, and Canada, for instance.
A bigger nursery would be a safer bet for ease of selection, featuring more stock, a bigger
variety, and plants in different stages. You could have the nurseries order your roses should
they not stock what you are searching for, or if they lack enough of your choice of rose plant.
Ask about group discounts if you belong to a club or discounts for a senior citizen or even a
veteran; maybe you are ordering in bulk and can get a discount for quantity.
Ask your local nursery if it ever has presentations to show you all about roses. Maybe they
have a shop nearby where they sell things pertaining to roses, like souvenirs or items for the
beginning gardener.
Someone who belongs to a garden club or who owns a farm may be able to provide input on
nurseries operating in your area. You could call your local farm feed store for information on
area nurseries. Some farm feed stores order plants from nurseries to sell at their own place of
business.
A benefit of visiting your local nurseries would include seeing your plants already in various
stages of growth, including flowering. You can see the condition of the plant before purchase.
Buying a rose already started will save you time if you are in a hurry to begin your rose
gardening.
A bigger, more established nursery involves more than just a greenhouse. Much is done to
maintain a good nursery. There are workers who must be trained to plant, tend, handle, load,
and unload. Roses must be harvested, graded, packed properly in strong boxes. The trucks
that carry the roses should be climate-controlled. The flowers may have to be hand-pollinated.
There are different types of mulch, fertilizers, insect control products, temperature settings, and
disposal of plants or pruned parts.

A nursery differs slightly from a garden center. A garden center could be as simple as a small
area in your local discount department store. A nursery is more involved in the specifics of the
planting, harvesting, tending, and selling. What some stores call a garden center may also
include tools or power equipment to maintain the garden. Nurseries are more beneficial to the
economy in that they usually have huge greenhouses, plants help the quality of our air,
nurseries provide jobs, taxes are paid from the sale of the plants, and items are bought to
maintain the nurseries.
One way to learn the most about growing roses is to get a job in a nursery or start your own. If
you like the idea of owning your own nursery, do your homework. Research, research,
research, so that your business will be successful and a place people will be proud to return to.

Origin, Sentiment And Care Of Red Roses
Through fossil evidence, roses have existed since prehistoric times. In Asian gardens, more
than 5,000 years ago, the first cultivated roses appeared. Roses were introduced to Europe
during the Roman Empire where they were used for ornamental purposes. According to
historians, Cleopatra is said to have scattered rose petals before Mark Anthony's feet. Nero
released roses from the ceiling during extravagant feasts and banquets that were held.
The rose is the flower emblem of England. According to English folklore, if the petals fall from a
fresh-cut red rose then bad luck was sure to ensue. The red rose is the badge of the House of
Lancaster and the flower of Eros and Cupid.
Exquisite and radiant in every way, the red rose is the principal messenger of love. A single rose
denotes perpetual love. Two roses of any color taped or wired together signify a commitment or
forthcoming marriage. Red Roses are the most popular flower in expressing love and have been
the sentiment of young gents throughout the world. Making your heartfelt red roses last the
longest is not always easy. After receiving your roses always remove any water vials that may
have been shipped with your roses. These provide only a temporary water source during
delivery and will not keep your roses but for a short period. However, is it not wise to remove
floral wires that may have been attached to individual rose stems. These provide helpful support
for some roses. Remove any leaves that will be below water, being careful not to scrape or cut
through the green bark of the stems. Air can enter stems at such injuries blocking water uptake.
Leaves left under water will cause bacteria to develop and will significantly shorten the life of
your roses not to mention the horrid odor that will come forth. When preparing your vase,
always use lukewarm water and be sure to use a clean container. For best results, include
floral preservative if at all possible. Mix the preservative with room temperature water, in the
amount recommended on the package. Floral preservative provides sugars, balances pH, and
limits bacterial growth.
When preparing your red roses for arrangement, fill a sink or wide container with several inches
of warm water. While holding each stem under water, cut about one inch diagonally off the end
with a sharp knife or shears. Make sure to place the roses in your container before the stems

dry off. Gently remove any outermost petals that may have been bruised during shipping.
Removing a few petals will not damage a blossom and will often help it open more fully. Just be
careful not to force open or take off healthy petals.
Display your roses in a cool location, out of direct sunlight or drafts. Check your arrangement
daily to make sure it has plenty of clear, fresh water. If the water appears dirty after a couple of
days be sure to replace it completely.
If some roses should start to droop their heads prematurely, it could be due to air trapped in the
stems. Recut the stems underwater as described previously. Then let the roses float on the
water surface with the stem ends below water and the rose heads in an upright position. In
many cases, the roses will revive and harden within about an hour. It is certainly worth a try to
keep your roses lasting longer. With care, your red roses will bloom quickly and should stay
open anywhere from 5 to 10 days for your enjoyment.

Roses And Their Color Meaning
Roses may be the traditional gift given on Valentines Day, but they are definitely well received
any day of the year. Buyer beware before you buy roses, know what message you are sending
in the color. Men as well as women, express that they love to get flowers and floral gifts.
Remember color talks! Although it is a common acceptance that all roses convey warmth and
affection, the person receiving them may know and understand the meaning of roses colors and
the symbolic message conveyed. It would be nice to assure that you are communicating the
right message to that special person sharing a special language between the two of you.
The color of a rose can certainly be interpreted than the thought you intended. To ensure that
your love (or friend) understands what the roses you are sending mean, follow the guide below
so you can be sure of no misinterpreted gestures.
Orange - enthusiasm, desire and fascination
Lavender - love at first sight
Coral - desire
Pale Peach - modesty
Peach - appreciation, closing of the deal, lets get together, sincerity
Red and Yellow - jovial and happy feelings
Red and White - given together these signify unity
Yellow with Red Tip - friendship, falling in love
Yellow - Joy, gladness, friendship, delight, promise of a new beginning, welcome back,
remember me, jealousy

Light Pink - admiration, sympathy, gentleness, grace, gladness, joy, sweetness
Dark Pink - appreciation, gratitude, thank-you
Pink - appreciation, thank-you, grace, perfect happiness, admiration, gentleness, please believe
me
White (Bridal) - happy love
White - purity, innocence, silence, secrecy, reverance,humilty, youthfulness, I am worthy of you,
Heavenly
Deep Burgundy - unconscious beauty
Red (single) - I love you
Red Dark - unconscious beauty
Red - love, beauty, courage and respect, romantic love, congratulations, I love you, job well
done, sincere love, respect, courage and passion
Single in any Color - simplicity, gratitude
Red Rosebud - symbolic of purity and loveliness
White Rosebud - symbolic of girlhood
Thornless Rose - love at first sight
There is also significance and meaning to the number of roses you send which is interesting
also to note.
1 Rose - Love at first sight!
2 Roses - Mutual feelings

3 Roses - I Love You!
7 Roses - I'm infatuated with you
9 Roses - Together as long as we live
10 Roses - You're Perfect!
11 Roses - You're my treasured one
12 Roses - Be my steady
13 Roses - Forever friends
15 Roses - I'm really sorry
20 Roses - I'm sincere towards you
21 Roses - I'm committed to you
36 Roses - I'll remember our romantic moments
40 Roses - My love is genuine
99 Roses - I'll love you till the day I die
100 Roses - I'm totally devoted to you
101 Roses - You're my one and only
108 Roses - Will you marry me?
999 Roses - My love will last till the end of time
Leaves - In general they are a symbol of hope
Rose talk is the language and trend setting is the game. It does not matter whether you are shy,
trying to convey a suttle message or shouting it from the stems, saying it with a rose sends a
special message. These "body language" blooms are the most popular of all cut flowers and
nothing quite says it like a rose. Regardless of color, number or stage of growth, rose that are
sent every month conveys "beauty ever new." Regardless if your rose recipient is not familiar
with the shades meaning or number of, one message shouts out loud and clear. The person
that sends roses is a romantic and is saying something very special!

The Basics Of Designing Gardens
Just like the Nike ad says "Just Do It," this is exactly the perspective one needs in getting good
at garden designs. You can always move plants around your gardens and as your ideas and
taste change, your gardens can grow with you. There are some simple elements of garden
design. Think of designing your garden with living art in mind being creative and free to try
whatever suits your taste. There are no limitations to the creativity that's' within, no comparison
or fear of failure. Although gardening successfully requires learning certain skills, when all is
said and done a garden's beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Just go for it and let your
gardens be the expression of you.
Garden design and its principles used may be called by different names. There are three basic
concepts when combined together will bring about good garden design. Ultimately your
gardens' design is up to you and should reflect your own personality and flare.
Order, balance and proportion are the basic structure of the garden. Order is symmetrical
through repeating plants or colors. Bold or bright additions bring balance as well as adding
some texture. Texture is an important ingredient. Gardens come to life with different textured
plants much like the human race. All different but flowing together and being brought together
through unity and harmony creating comfort and peace.
When all of the parts of the garden are flowing together it is captivating and ones' spirit is caught
up in the beauty. Using a limited color pattern, repetition of plants and a clear focal point creates
this environment. Theme gardens are very soothing: all one color, butterfly gardens or cross
gardens keep you flowing in like unity.You'll also hear a lot of talk about starting your garden
with good bones. That basically means creating an outlining foundation, with trees, structures,
paths, etc. for the rest of the garden to build off of. Evergreen is a favorite of the good bones.
Having a focal point is a big benefit for every garden. With no focal point the eye starts to
wonder here and there without every getting a grasp of a main feature. This is not creating the
harmony you desire for your gardens or creating any curb appeal. Beginning gardeners seem
to pick the same flowers or foliage over and over again which has no visual interest. Planting

an architectural, bold leafed plant, can restore this visual interest instead of the monotony of
likeness.
Last, but not least, is adding color to your gardens. Experimenting with your favorite colors is a
good way to see what works best for you. The best advice to heed though is to start out with 2-
3 colors to keep the artist palette limited. You can always add new colors to your gardens by
eyeballing it along the way. This way you keep the living painting flowing in the harmony you
wish to relate. You will then have a peaceful retreat that you have created and enable others to
share that intimate part of you.

The Benefits Of Rose Shrubs
Although some have the ability to grow quite large, there are shrub roses smaller than four feet.
Many people like to use these shrubs for barriers as well as for ornamental purposes. Shrubs
make beautiful hedges that have a touch of old-world class for your landscaping. The term 'old-
world' is used because these shrubs have been around for such a long time.
Shrub roses work well for formal or informal landscaping. If you want to balance your scenery,
you could plant shrub roses among herbs. Incidentally, roses have some of the same uses as
herbs.
Shrub roses have a natural ability to resist disease. They'll grow in various climates and require
little maintenance. These qualities make it a friendlier choice for the person new to gardening.
You may want to plant shrub roses to hide an imperfection on your home or in your yard. If you
have an eyesore that can't be repaired or removed, it may be a good idea to hide it with the
larger shrub roses. It should draw the eye more towards the plant and less towards the
eyesore, or may even hide it completely.
You may not want to plant shrubs in an area where it will be accessible for passersby to pluck
your favored blooms. If you are trying to win the title of "Yard of the Month", or something
similar, placement would definitely matter! These shrubs in bloom may make it irresistible to
passing admirers. Besides taking the blooms, the flowers could be damaged carelessly by
wandering hands. Bruised blooms would not be a welcome sight to a judge.
The more shrubs you plant, the more beautiful blooms you can enjoy. They would make it
easier to decorate for an event you may want to hold. It would save the convenience and cost
of ordering flowers from someone else. The added benefit would be the pride of showing
something you would have produced yourself. The shrubs would not only provide beauty, but a
fragrance as well, to share with your guests.
You could use the roses from your shrubs in many ways. Suppose you are crafty, you could
use them in dried flower arrangements. Maybe you want to share them with your neighbor, or

use them for romantic purposes for your spouse( such as covering the bed or floor with the
petals from your very own shrubs). You could try selling the blooms from your shrubs for
corsages. Even a blind friend or relative could benefit from the sweet, uplifting smell of the
roses. Maybe you are an artist as well as a gardener. You could plant your own shrubs for your
oil, watercolor, or acrylic paintings.
Roses have one of the more dominant scents used for commercial purposes. Planting your
own shrubs would give you an outdoor air freshener that you could also bring inside to show off
in vases placed around a room. The rose scent can be subtle rather than overpowering. Some
roses do have a stronger fragrance than others.

The White Rose Is Not Just Another Flower!
Because white is a symbol of purity, honor, and innocence, white roses are often the type of
flower chosen for weddings. They seem to exude cleanliness, freshness, and sophistication. A
bush loaded full with white roses is an outstanding sight to behold! One might think of them as
having heavenly beauty.
The beginning of a new relationship, a fresh start, a baby's birth, could be celebrated with a gift
of breathtaking white roses. They can bring an air of importance to any event, or to your
outdoor scenery. They can bring out the best in a formal setting and add a teasing glimpse of
bright color and beauty to an informal setting.
White roses are used in garlands, as adornments for hair, decoration on hats, or in corsages
and boutonnieres. When used fresh, they can only last a few hours.
Proper preparation for long use of fresh white roses includes:
1. Soak the stem in room-temperature water for a few hours prior to use.
2. Wrap the end of the stem or stems tightly in florist's tape to contain the moisture.
3. Slip wires discreetly beneath the florist's tape and pierce the calyx. [The calyx is the outer
group of protective leaves of a flower.] The wire helps stiffen the stem.
There is such a thing as a glass lapel vase. When refilled, often it will keep the flowers strong
for days.
White roses can be ordered and shipped overnight. It is possible to find them for about forty
dollars a dozen. They can be mixed with other colored flowers to brighten an arrangement.
White on roses that aren't mean to be white can signify downy mildew. This condition is brought
on by hot days and cold nights; possibly there will not be enough air circulation. There is a
fungicide available. Always read the labels to determine that it will be what is best for your
particular climate and plant. As with any chemical, you should use a fungicide with care. Using
mulch around the roots is helpful to protect against this condition.

An interesting white rose is a Cherokee rose. It comes from the Orient, made its way to Florida,
and escaped to become the wild rose of the South. Soldiers during the Civil War planted this
rose on the graves of fallen comrades. Indian legends have been made about this white rose.
Also in the south, there is a leafy white rose native to North Central Texas. The most famous
rose gardens are in Tyler, Texas, known for its field-grown roses. An autumn rose festival is
held there each year. It is not unusual to see wild white roses running wild in south Texas, at a
height of up to eight feet. White roses do indeed add a wild grace to an untamed countryside.
Early Christians used to shun the rose, believing it a symbol of pagan corruption. The belief
was also that the rose grew thorn less in the Garden of Eden and acquired thorns to remind
people of their sins. How ironic that the white rose, indeed that any rose used to be shunned
and is now a welcome symbol in many ways.

What About Rose Gardening?
Ask anyone who has a green thumb about rose gardening, and you may need a tape recorder
to remember all the advice you'll get! Almost anyone who has an interest in gardening flowers
and plants will eventually mosey into rose territory. It's almost irresistible because of the beauty
and scent of one of the most popular plants on earth.
A rose is like no other. Rose gardening then will certainly open up grounds for controversy
among fellow gardeners. It's a subject like that of rearing children. To the rose gardening
crowd, their plants often become like their own children. They must be fed and nourished and
guided properly to bloom and flourish into their majestic beauty.
Gardeners have been known to talk to their plants to coax them into perfect health.
Rose gardening is sure to involve getting your hands dirty. If you want to truly enjoy the
experience, you must dig in with gusto and heartily embrace your adventure. Well, there are
gloves, you know; but the earth welcomes the hands-on experience. Some say it is quite
gratifying to become like one with the soil.
There is surely an art to rose gardening. The experience can be as simple or as scientific as
you so choose. You may want to stock up on things like mulch, a shovel, a hoe, weed-killer, a
watering can or hose, and maybe something called Miracle Grow or "food" for your rose plants.
Not to mention bandaids if your plants have thorns! You're certain to get pricked at some point
if you have the type of rose plant that produces thorns. It's all part of the true rose gardening
experience.
Roses have been known to contract diseases, so you want to know your plants well to be able
to recognize unhealthy changes in their leaves, color, overall health. Any living thing is
susceptible to such and must be monitored.
Certainly some research is recommended should you choose to begin rose gardening. It would
be advisable to research your particular type of rose plant. The adorable miniature roses may

need different care than another type of rose plant. Also, a rose that grows well in one area of
the globe may struggle in another.
Unsure where to start? The internet has vast amounts of information for rose gardening. There
are gardening clubs in many areas. You can search your local library or favored book store for
the proper books or magazines. Maybe it would be a good way to meet that neighbor you never
knew how to approach. There are also many elderly gardeners who would enjoy mentoring the
right student in rose gardening.
Remember, when you choose your rose plant, you may want to share the beautiful blossoms
with someone special, or many someones. A child's teacher, some lonely person in a nursing
home or hospital, someone who is unable to enjoy the rose gardening experience firsthand, a
favored relative or friend. So make sure you choose carefully and choose enough to share! A
rose just isn't meant to enjoy alone.

Why Would I Want To Grow Hybrid Teas?
The hybrid tea might also be called the flower of lovers. It makes the perfect long-stemmed
rose. It flowers repeatedly and can be strong with the proper care. It is the resulting
combination of the tea rose and the hybrid perpetual. A hybrid tea is an ideal choice to present
to the love of your life, a special gift for a mother, or just to display on your tabletop. It will add a
touch of elegance to any room even as a lone flower in a vase. There are at least 237 varieties
available.
If you worry about thorns, you can choose a thorn less type of hybrid tea. In my humble
opinion, the thorns add to the artistic charm of the flower. It demands respect and adds
character.
Be sure to take care of your newly acquired plant. You'll want to decide what to feed it for
endurance and strength and overall health. Each established gardener most likely has a
favorite recipe or brand of plant food. Guard against overuse when feeding. It is possible to
chemically burn your leaves or stems. The food is often concentrated and requires diluting.
Watering heavily also helps dilute the food for the hybrid teas to process more easily and
acceptably. You really only have to feed once in the spring and again in the fall. Some
gardeners may choose to feed more often.
Pruning, feeding, proper watering, insect and disease control all sound a bit overwhelming at
first. But it's actually an easy process to learn. Like any living thing, there is a necessity for
proper growth and development. Try keeping notes you feel are important about your hybrid
and its care. These may even come in handy should you choose to try your luck with other
flowering plants. Once you become more comfortable with the care of your plant, you'll be
better able to appreciate it.
Some hybrid teas have romantic names, such as Bride's Dream, Bronze Star, Change of Heart,
or Classic Beauty. If you like card games, perhaps your landscape would be more complete
with the Ace of Hearts. Like many other things, there are hybrid teas named after famous
people such as Barbara Streisand, Barbara Bush, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope. Whatever your
choice, you shouldn't be disappointed in one of the most popular and beloved of roses.

It would probably be next to impossible to count all the things ever written about the rose. Often
when one pictures a love scene, if a rose is involved, it would be a long-stemmed hybrid with or
without thorns. Although they are not known for their strong scent, a hybrid tea has its own
appeal in its appearance alone. Commercially, it is a welcomed rose. Shown in many pictures
and used in many images, the hybrid is greatly admired. It's image is used on gift wrap, tattoos,
dinnerware, in wedding decorations, and especially on assorted items for Valentine's Day, to
name a few.

Gardening Tips: Growing Hot Peppers
Hot peppers are found all over the world, but primarily in hot climates such as Mexico and
Southeast Asia. Many hot peppers are also cultivated in green or hot houses, which are simply
regulated and contained environments. Hot peppers are found all over the world, and have
been adding spice to meals for centuries. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicinoids it has.
Capsaicinoids are what cause the burning feeling when you eat a very hot pepper. The higher
the capsaicinoid content the more intensely you will feel the burn. The Scoville Scale is used to
measure how hot a pepper is in Scoville units. The Scoville Scale was developed in 1912 by
Wilbur Scoville. Since then the method for determining Scoville units in hot pepper has become
much more scientific (no more taste tests).
Once you know the Scoville rating of a hot pepper you can get a good idea how hot it will be
and how to use it in your cooking without causing yourself unnecessary discomfort. Pure
capsaicin has a rating of 16,000,000, whereas a bell pepper has a rating of 0. One of the most
popular moderately hot peppers is the jalapeno, which has a rating of anywhere between 2,500
and 8,000 Scoville units. Compare this with varieties of habanero peppers which come in
anywhere from 100,000 to 300.000 Scoville units. Some other highly rating hot peppers include
Scotch bonnet peppers and Jamaican hot peppers. Due to the vast difference between
peppers, it is wise to never substitute a pepper in a recipe for another unless you know they
have similar Scoville ratings.
Many people love to grow their own hot peppers and in the right environment you may find they
grow quicker than you can eat them. You can grow hot peppers in your garden, or even in
containers. If you are a novice gardener you may want to start with plants rather than seeds.
Each pepper plant or seed packet should come with very specific instructions on planting,
watering, and sunlight. Most hot pepper varieties require at least five hours of direct sunlight a
day, and moist but not drenched soil. Adding some plant food to the soil is a great way to
encourage healthy large hot peppers. Before planting peppers make sure that the environment
in which you live will get hot enough to produce a healthy pepper plant. Some cooler climates
may not be ideal for the pepper plant and the seeds and seedlings may need to be cultured
indoors before turning out into the garden.

Gardening Tips: Starting A Butterfly Garden
There are hundreds upon hundreds of species of butterflies. In Los Angeles California alone
there are over 110 different species. In New York City there are about 70 different species. So
of course there are going to be people like you who'd like to enjoy seeing some of these species
within their own gardens and that's where this article comes in handy. Butterflies are beautiful
and it's always a nice surprise to see them flitting about, in and out of flowers unexpectedly. So
why not have them in your personal garden as well? There are plenty of things you can do to
attract different types of butterflies to your garden. You don't need a special garden all by itself
to attract butterflies. If you have certain plants and flowers in the garden, butterflies will
definitely find them.
First of all you should know that some plants that attract butterflies can also attract
bees and wasps. So if you have allergies to these bugs or just don't want them hanging around
then you might want to rethink the whole butterfly garden thing. Once you get past that you
need to choose flowers and plants that butterflies love, places for them to sun themselves, and
a supply of water somewhere in the garden for them to drink. It should be a place that not only
the adults are attracted to but should be a place for them to hibernate, lay eggs, and for the
larva and caterpillars to feed. You should create a place to hibernate that is protected in some
way, like with surrounding tall trees that help as a barrier from wind. They like to bask in the
warm sun so why not have flat rocks about just for that purpose.
Butterflies are mostly active in mid and late summer so you should make sure that
you have lots of nectar-rich plants and flowers blooming by then. If you plant large sections of
flowers that are the same color it'll make it easier for them to find you garden. You should plant
flowers that will bloom at different times of the year and ones that bloom even at different times
of the day and night, this way you'll always have something in bloom and they'll always be
attracting butterflies.
Once you find out which types of butterflies are native to your area, it'll be easier to
know which kinds of plants and flowers to put in your garden. Don't forget though, that you
should alternate your "butterfly plants and flowers" with ones that don't attract butterflies also. If
you actually have so many butterflies in your garden, you can place water features and "calm"
areas also. Having an entire garden dedicated to butterflies isn't necessary either. If you'd like,
you can have a mini butterfly garden by adding a raised section to your garden and then that's
where you'd plant everything.

Gardening Tips: Compost
Healthy compost is essential for any garden whether you’re growing vegetables or flowers.
Compost is essentially organic decaying matter. Aerobic organisms such as insects, bacteria,
fungi, and worms break down materials such as grass, leaves, and some kitchen scraps to
create compost. Compost is extremely rich in nutrients and comparable, if not better, than
commercial fertilizers for your garden. Many gardeners use compost since it is free,
environmentally friendly, and wonderful for your plants. If you’re able to save your kitchen
scraps you might want to take advantage of producing your own compost.
There is almost no limit to the many benefits of compost. Rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium compost is sure to help any garden become abundant. Compost improves soil and
encourages root development. Any gardener who has used compost is sure to never go back
to commercial fertilizer. After just a short time of using home made compost you’ll start to notice
the difference in the way your plants are thriving.
If you are interested in composting you do need a compost bin. Some people still have a
traditional compost bin, which is an open bin of any sort, typically wood, which they throw
compost materials into. The composting process can however take some time and the new and
improved compost bins take advantage of what we know about heat and moisture conditions.
Anyone can have a compost bin, even if you have a very small yard or live in an apartment with
a large balcony.
Compost materials are the matter that you place inside your compost bin and will eventually
become your compost for gardening. Almost any organic matter will do and they typically fall
into two groups: brown and green materials. Matter rich in carbon are considered browns and
include dried leaves and straw. Matter rich in nitrogen are considered greens and include
certain kitchen scraps such as vegetables and fruits and grass. As you can see compost
materials are very easy to come by since any home owner has an abundance of these
materials.
Other than your garden, one of the biggest benefits to composting is the environment. In this
day and age where everything is disposable and our landfills are growing by the second, it is

important we do what we can to help reduce and reuse. Composting is a wonderful way to do
your part by reducing the amount of garbage we throw away and reusing certain materials.
Composting is essentially recycling waste and turning it into something our gardens will love.

Gardening Tips: Organic Gardening
Organic gardening means that you need to know a whole range of tips and tricks so that you
can have a successful garden. When you have the knowledge, the tips, and the patience to
garden naturally you’ve got a recipe for success. You’ll find yourself with a beautiful flower
garden and baskets of fresh vegetables with no more effort or time that you would invest in a
garden that isn’t taken care of organically.
Mulching is an important step for any type of garden. You’ll have to use organic mulch in your
flower and vegetable gardens so this means that you may want to make your own mulch from
ingredients from your own home. Mulching will add nutrition to the soil, helps combat weeds,
and acts as a water retainer. For those plants that you have that need to have an acid mulch,
all you need to do is add a sprinkling of pine needles to the mulched area and this will naturally
elevate the acid content of the soil.
If you’re going to garden organically you’ll have to make sure that any fertilizers that you buy are
natural and organic. You’ll be able to find organic fertilizers in plant and gardening stores as
well as other organic supplements that you may want to add to the soil. Pests, such as insects,
are always a big concern for the organic gardener. Inviting birds to your yard by hanging bird
feeders are one way that you can keep down the number of insects that you have in your
garden. Keep in mind though that there are some birds that will love to eat the tender shoots of
your plants. For example, sparrows love to eat parsley, radish tops, and new lettuce so you’ll
want to try to avoid luring these birds to the bird feeder.
There are other ways that you can get rid of the bugs and pests that are out to eat your plants
besides luring birds or using pesticides. You can get rid of the aphids on your plants by
spraying the stems, leaves, and buds with a solution that has been made of soap and water.
It’s important that you remember to spray the soap solution into the dirt around and near the
stems of the plants so that you further deter the aphids from eating the plant.
You can find many books on organic gardening to give you more hints and tips about how to
keep your garden growing and flourishing. You’ll soon enjoy eating organic vegetables and
having a flower garden that is totally free of chemicals.

Gardening Tips: Patio Gardening
If you have a green thumb you may have beautiful landscaping, a vegetable plot, and
houseplants. Or, you may love plants but don’t have the luxury of a big backyard or your health
may prevent large-scale gardening. This is when it’s time to turn to that empty patio or balcony
for gardening possibilities. A patio is an oft-neglected space that homeowners or apartment
renters forget to use so why not perk it up with plants? The benefits are many, and the
convenience can’t be beat!
A trellis with ivy or other climbing plants can be the best way to shield you from neighbors’ nosy
gazes. Trellises can also provide reprieve from unsightly back yards or a noisy street. If the
idea of a trellis doesn’t appeal, you can always place a hearty ficus or other large container
plant to obscure the view off your patio or balcony. A wooden deck, concrete patio, or iron
balcony are negative spaces that become inviting when decorated with plants. Hanging plants,
like spider plants or ferns, can make a space cozier when you sit on a swing or bench in cool
evenings, giving the impression that you and your guests are “peeking” out into the view. Small,
hearty outdoor plants are great placed on a tiered stand or on the railing, providing visual
interest.
Vegetables, like cherry tomatoes or lemon trees, can make having fresh produce right at your
fingertips possible. There are many vegetables and fruits that do well in pots. This is great for
gardeners with limited space or mobility. Herbs are also a nice addition to your patio garden, as
they are beautiful as well as useful. Patio gardens can be as large or small as your taste or
space permits. You may prefer a southwestern look with lots of cacti. Maybe you want the lush
appearance of leafy green plants and blooming flowers. A minimalist may want to keep his or
her patio garden limited to a lemon tree and a pot of Asian grasses.
Also remember that the pots themselves can serve as decorative focal points. These you can
buy new in complementary colors, find at flea markets for an eclectic look, or paint yourself. If
you want the plants themselves to be the star of the show use simple terra cotta pots. For
green plants, colored pots are often attractive. It’s also possible to match the pot to the flower
color. For example, a lavender plant would be beautiful in a shiny periwinkle bowl.

Finally, patio gardens are easy to tend to. Plants can be moved around for best light and
moved indoors in the colder months. Watering is small-scale with a household watering can.
The only tool necessary is a small garden spade. With a weekly tour, patio gardens can be kept
neat looking with a pair of scissors and broom. If you haven’t got the space, the energy, or the
time for a full-size garden, but still want to experience the serenity and beauty they bring, turn to
your patio into your haven. Convenient and beautiful, patio gardens are gardens at you
fingertips.

Gardening Tips: Winter Gardening
The temperatures are slowly declining, the trees are becoming bare, and the weatherman is
predicting the first frost of the season. Surely the winter season holds no hope of producing a
garden full of healthy plants, right? Wrong! There are several things you can do to extend the
period of time during which you can plant a successful garden. The winter even provides some
benefits such as natural pest control, which will help your garden reach its maximum potential.
In addition, by carefully choosing plants that are durable and frost-resistant you can ensure that
they will survive through some undesirable conditions and be ready for harvest in the late fall or
even mid-winter.
It’s probably a good idea to sit down and start planning out all of the aspects of your garden on
paper, to provide you with a solid blueprint you can reference when it comes time to purchase
supplies and start doing the dirty work. The types of plants you choose to grow will affect most
of the other decisions you will need to make about your garden, so it is advisable to take care of
this first. There are many types of vegetables that will suit your needs for a fall and winter
garden. Some of the more popular ones include lettuce, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, onions,
spinach, and turnips. All of these vegetables have been known to be frost-resistant, and
therefore make perfect candidates for the garden.
Once you’ve decided what types of plants you want head over to the local nursery to purchase
some seed packets of the vegetables you want to grow. Make sure to take a look at the number
of days required for them to mature. This information is usually found on the packet itself.
Once you’ve got the number of days simply backtrack from the projected date for your region’s
first frost, and plant the seeds. Your garden should already be prepared for its new inhabitants
that mean replacing the nutrient-depleted soil from your spring garden if necessary. Soil
drainage must be excellent in the wintertime. If the water cannot pass through the soil, it will
freeze and damage your plant’s roots. If you are concerned about drainage in your garden,
adding sand can improve the situation.
When planting the seeds, make sure you are giving the plants more room than you would
normally. This will improve air circulation and ensure that fungus and mildew won’t be taking
advantage of any dark, damp places you’ve unintentionally created by sticking your plants too

close to each other.
Successful gardening in the winter is all about planning and protection. If you’ve chosen plants
that are durable and frost-resistant, you’ve already got an advantage. By carefully planning out
your garden, you can improve air circulation and prevent harmful fungus or other pests from
finding a home with your plants. Basic protective layers will help your plants survive unusually
cold, frosty nights. Follow these basic guidelines and you should be able to enjoy your garden
all year round!

Gardening Tips: Creating A Wildlife Garden
Many people opt for a natural garden because of the enjoyment derived from the various
specimens of wildlife that visit. Another appreciated attribute is low maintenance. The less you
maintain your garden, the greater diversity you encourage. These gardens work with, and
benefit from, nature and wildlife. Other garden types can also benefit from nature and wildlife.
Your garden soil, plants growing in it, and natural debris on its surface abound with a multitude
of various organisms. Though some are invisible to the human eye they have a profound affect
on the lives of plants and animals, large and small. They are an important part of the biological
community, helping to provide food for animals and birds.
A wise gardener will support these microorganisms by providing them with plenty of organic
matter to recycle. The caregiver of a natural garden is one such gardener, and understands the
benefits of working side by side with nature. Whether a natural garden or not, there are good,
viable reasons for encouraging certain specimens of wildlife to the garden. Toads and frogs
help to control garden pests and ladybugs have voracious appetites when it comes to aphids.
Worms help to aerate the soil, praying mantis seek out a variety of “bad insects,” and butterflies
and bees help pollinate. But there are many other reasons to encourage wildlife interaction in
the garden.
Besides being a delight to watch birds are useful in the yard and garden because they eat a
large variety and quantity of insects. Swallows eat their weight in insects each day, including
pesky mosquitoes. Robins, flycatchers, vireos, warblers, and woodpeckers are also primarily
insect eaters. Even hummingbirds will occasionally supplement their diet of flower nectar with
insects. In fact, birds are among the best natural means of keeping garden pests in check. In
order to encourage birds to your yard and garden a few basic needs must be met: food, water,
shelter, and a place to rear young. A wise gardener will provide an environment that will offer
birds these basic needs.
Water should be made available during every season of the year. During winters in northern
states or in the mountains, where hard freezes occur, a small immersed heater made for that
purpose will keep a pond or birdbath from icing over. You can help insure that birds will visit
often by providing bird feeders in and around your yard. To attract a wide variety of birds, offer

a variety of feeding stations and different types of food. If hawks are prevalent in your area,
shelter these feeding stations with a wire roof. Birds will be better protected against predators,
and you will still be able to see and enjoy them.

Gardening Tips: Common Pests
There are many ways to protect your lawn, flowers, vegetables and trees against tiny predators
that are historically safe and efficient. Aphids are small, soft-bodied threats to foliage; these
pests suck your plant’s sap and cause the plant to wither. Worse, aphids carry and transmit
disease and are of particular concern for tomato plants. You can control them from wreaking
extensive damage to your garden by introducing ladybugs to the organic arena. You can buy
ladybugs from many different suppliers. The apple maggot, similar to the common housefly, is
also known as a railroad worm and apple fruit fly. Whatever you name it, it is responsible for
messy pulpy apples. One way to thwart these creatures is to hang plastic fruit coated with
Tanglefoot that will render useless the feet of the insect keeping them from your rosy apples.
Protect your beans from bean thrip that are dark thin pests that leave plants leaves
wilted and visibly spotted with excrement. To keep their population under control keep your
garden as free from weeds as possible. Also, try incorporating lacewings, bugs that prey on
thrips. A major enemy of cabbage and its relatives is the harlequin bug. This is a black bug
with red-orange markings that smells horrible. It also causes the plant to wilt and turn brown.
You’ll need a decoy crop of mustard greens nearby to lure these smelly pests over. Remove
the bugs here and drop them in a jar of kerosene-topped water.
Vegetable weevils attack many kinds of veggies such as cabbage, carrots and
cauliflower. You can best control them by rotating your crops. The cultivation should destroy
their underground eggs. Serious pests for your lawn are chinch bugs. Introduce bigeyed bugs
to munch down their numbers and keep your grass looking green and healthy. Cutworms will
threaten your carnation population, but they will threaten just about everything else in your
garden too. Luckily, many predators find this ghastly looking creature appetizing including
fireflies, meadowlarks, and toads among them.
A garden hose is a good way to protect your evergreens from spider mites. If you
see yellow needles there is good chance you’ve got them. A forceful blast from the hose up and
down the center of the tree periodically will help wash them away. A water spray is an effective
way to rid many plants, such as your English ivy, from various mites. A small squirt can wash
the creature and its web away. Many insects can be controlled and stopped simply by keeping
your garden free of weeds that attract and shelter the pests.

Gardening Tips: Types Of Soil
Dirt is actually not the correct term to describe that complex growing media that plants need
to…well…grow. Soil is composed of bacteria and microorganisms that help decompose organic
matter into nutrients that enrich the soil. As gardeners will tell some soils are better than others
for growing various different types of plants. Depending on your conditions your garden soil
might need some help.
Clay soil is known as a heavy soil. When wet its particles clump together making it impervious
to both water and plants. When clay soil becomes dry it stays hard and cracks. Consequently
clay soil delights in air and the soil needs to be loosened. Most gardeners will add peat moss or
humus to their clay soil in order to prevent the particles from sticking together and will allow
water to drain through it. Sandy soils are composed of the largest particles found in soils.
Sandy soil has such excellent drainage that often its problem is an inability to retain moisture for
good plant growth. Again, humus or peat moss can remedy this situation.
A silt soil is generally a good growing soil since its particles are in sizes between those of clay
and sand. A loam soil is usually excellent for plants. It is open, retains moisture well and has a
good structure. Loam is the gardener’s joy. Other types of growing soil can be purchased online
or at your local garden center. Humus is basically composted topsoil. It is rich with
decomposed organic matter and is sold much like regular topsoil. Generally humus can be
purchased as peat humus or pine bark humus. The peat humus variety is mostly comprised of
decomposed reed-sedge. Pine bark humus comes from decomposed pine bark. Humus is
generally used to build up the soil structure for containers, lawns and flowerbeds.
Potting soil is sold for ready use. Also known as houseplant soil it is perfect for indoor plants
and for starting plants from seed. Potting soil is a compound of both organic and inorganic
materials with such ingredients as compost, peat moss, sand, and vermiculite. Top soil is rich
with a large quantity of organic composition. Most gardeners turn to packaged topsoil from one
time to another to improve the quality of their garden soil. It can be purchased sterile or in its
natural form containing microorganisms. Soilless mixes are sold for use in container or tub
gardens. These have been sterilized so there is no likelihood of weeds. This growing medium
retains water and nutrients extremely well.

These are most of the basics when it comes to soil. There are more soil conditioners and
additives on the market but you will need to know what your garden soil needs for plants to
thrive. In some cases, a soil test for pH levels is ideal for determining the components of your
garden soil. There are test kits available. Check online or at your local garden center.

Gardening Tips: Starting With A New Garden
It’s that time of the year again where you might feel like you could really try to start your own
garden again. Whether your heart lies with growing vegetables, flowers, or just designing and
maintaining a gorgeous garden you have to start somewhere. There is nothing more fulfilling
than growing your plants and vegetables from seed especially if you are interested in starting an
organic garden. Organic seeds for both plants and vegetables or fruits are widely available
nowadays and there are always people who would gladly swap seeds. Giving your plants the
right start is imperative when it comes to growing strong plants and sowing and growing from
seed is an art in itself. It will take a bit more work and determination but seeing a plant develop
in its own time is an educational and exciting thing to witness.
Growing indoors in heated propagators sold in any garden centre or just on the window sill can
be done all year round. Growing outdoors is where the true challenge lies. Be prepared to
guard your young plant against pests such as slugs and follow these steps to a successful
garden. Start by forking over the soil of the chosen site where you wish to start your garden a
few times before you actually start sowing. This is done to encourage the growth of weeds
before you sow so that you can successfully hoe off the weed seedlings. The traditional time to
start this process would be February or March. Shortly before you start sowing all the weeds
must have been removed.
Pick a dry day and make sure that the soil that you will be working with is not wet. Scatter a
fertiliser suitable for the type of garden that you are preparing over the ground. This could be an
organic compost suitable for vegetables for example. Your garden centre will be able to help
you find the best fertiliser for your plot or garden. After this process the ground must be raked
over and over again till it is completely level, to make sowing easier.
Early in the season the soil might still be fairly damp and cold. If this is the case it might be wise
to first cover the prepared soil with sheets of plastic for a few weeks or so, till you are satisfied
that the weather has made a change for the better and there will be no more spells of frost. The
plastic will help warm the soil and the top layer of the soil will dry out a bit, which will make
sowing a lot easier when you can start. If you cannot wait it might be an idea to construct a
tunnel of plastic with plastic piping, to sow and grow seedling under.

Using Your Florist – Floral/Flower Gardening Idea Hunting
Apart from just looking pretty within your garden, flowers could be gathered and shaped into
various gorgeous arrangements for many special occasions, or simply to decorate your house.
One may obviously do this individually; however there are some people who are trained in this
art of flower arrangement which you could turn to formal arrangements and some tips on
arranging one's own flowers. The expert individuals are the florists. The floral/flower gardening
fountain of knowledge always waits to be tapped.
Due to the fact that several florists arrange the flowers according to different themes, you could
always pop into some florist shop for an idea of what could be planted if one wants to make
most out of the chosen flowers for the garden. Even before one chooses the flowers, it is
suggested to go on idea hunting by entering your local florist shop. Floral/flower gardening and
suggestions would be abound.
You could turn towards some florist for the flower gardening tips or other information about
growing flowers. If one is actually lucky, the florist would be growing his own stock and hence
could take you around the garden to show about how specific flowers are precisely taken care
of.
Some traditional florists who are specialized in selling exotic flower arrangements, also
occasionally sell some species of flowers and the seedlings which you may then transplant in
the garden. Few traditional florists do not sell the seeds; however, besides transplanting flowers
which are bought from the florist shop, one could buy flowers and take the cutting to cultivate
one's own specimen of the flower.
These days, moreover, the garden supplies store and other supermarkets are getting into florist
business. They would always remain the reliable locations from where one could buy the
gardening plants and other garden supplies; however, now one may head to most of such
places for really stunning floral arrangements.
In the technology era, apparently there are several places for virtual florists. The floral/flower
gardening companies are not just the only ones jumping in the World Wide Web. Quite many of

the florists are heavily popping up on internet sites. They are very convenient as one may have
the flowers sent to any corner in the world. If in case whatever you are looking in the florist is
more of personal attention and a possibility about walking through a shop taking look at the
floral arrangements for the inspiration, then the online florists would just not do.
Indeed, one cannot just choose a florist for either the floral arrangements or regarding any
advice on flower growing. Ensure that the florist you plan to turn to is very creative in his work.
This would help you with getting wonderful advices on what could be essentially grown! The
manner in which the florist asks you about your purpose of growing and wanting the flowers is
another sign of good florist etiquette. Floral/flower gardening tips which are from such people
could be trusted. They would indeed give tailored and personal advice. Always check the
selection of the flowers which are offered by florists. The floral/flower gardening advice must
only be heard from people who have several different species in their shop as these florists
have wider range of information and knowledge and would give more extensive advice. Always
beware of those florists who sell fewer flower species as their knowledge is very limited. Lastly,
ensure that the flowers which are being sold stay in good shape. It would suggest that the florist
is one who knows to care about the flowers and could pass on that information to you.

Indoor Gardening Supplies In Winter
Which gardener would not sit inside in winter with some plant catalogues on their lap as they sip
their tea and dream of the next year's garden? This is simply a good fun especially to get indoor
gardening supply and have a little winter gardening fun. You may use it for starting seedlings or
simply raise indoor plants; however either way with right indoor gardening supply, one need not
wait for the summer to get his fingers dirty again.
Light- let that remain
Perhaps, the most vital thing to address about indoor gardening is regarding the level of light.
During the winters, days are shorter which means less light. When the house does not have
suitable windows facing south to capture good light, you would continually have to append the
light quotient by adjusting the plants around for capturing better sun. It is not optimal solution
though. For the winter indoor gardening, apt light sources are among the essential indoor
gardening supply stuff. Few people rely upon fluorescent lights, and some others use halogen
lights and high intensity discharge lamps. Few even try growing them with the incandescent
light, but it doesn't work very well for every plant.
Any way for that matter, one must be aware about the light requirements of indoor plants which
is being grown and should pick the lighting suitable for them.
Earth or Water
There is varied number of ways you could grow plants inside, few are based on the nutrients
rich water-based system, and some others rely upon the good Mother Earth. Type of garden
chosen would determine indoor gardening supplies one needs. The soil-less systems, generally
called the hydroponics are considered as optimal indoor growing system. It reduces damage to
the crops from pests and weeds. It is a little more complex to comprehend, but could be learned
quite quickly. The indoor gardening supplies often have assortments of hydroponics kits which
are available to average consumer.

When you are rooting the cuttings or growing the seeds for transplanting outdoor, then the jiffy
peat cups and seedling starter kits become available in the indoor gardening supplies. It would
allow you to plant the seeds indoors with minimum mess via soil. They are compact, very easily
transported, and peat pots could be planted outside pot!
Indoor gardening is indeed a rewarding hobby. Most people focus on specific plant types. Few
like cactuses, while others like tropical. Some other people grow the herbs indoors. Whichever
plant you choose, it would have its very own unique growing needs and other optimal
environments. Cactuses, apparently, would need a very dry and hot environment whereas the
herbs love the hydroponic setups. Hence when you choose the indoor gardening supplies,
always ensure about the plants you would grow and try mimicking the environment in which
they essentially grow naturally for best results.

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